The marquise de Belestat 1755

Jean-Marc Nattier painted this portrait of the Marquise de Belestat in France in the first half of the 18th century. It’s a period we now call the Rococo, and you can see it in the emphasis on luxury, ornamentation and the celebration of the aristocracy. Nattier was a specialist in portraits of women at the court of Louis XV, and this painting is a good example of his style. It’s not just a likeness of a particular person, but a statement about social class. The Marquise is adorned with flowers, lace and silk; all of these expensive materials demonstrate her elevated social position. She looks out at us with a calm, confident gaze. This painting is meant to convey not only her beauty, but also her status and power. To understand more about this painting, we would want to research not only the artist and his other works, but also the history of the French aristocracy and the social and political context in which it was made.